Grief & Creative Healing

Grief is Universal. Healing should be accessible.

Welcome to our community of hope, healing, advocacy, education and support for all things GRIEF.

Grief is universal and we believe that healing, resources and support should be accessible to anyone. Unfortunately, grief education and support options are extremely limited and also, not a realistic option financially for many people who are struggling.

While we are a society that actively struggles with life losses of all kinds (illness, divorce, death, dying, job losses, etc.) and the ongoing effects of isolation surrounding the global pandemic, the availability of grief literacy, education and coping skills and techniques are hard to find and more often still, not an affordable option for so many.

These issues and this social climate are what prompted the beginning of our cause: Grief and Creative Healing.

Your donation will help to support a variety of programs and workshops as well as one-on-one, family and group sessions for anyone who is experiencing grief and loss. Our creative healing modalities are centered in mindfulness practices and foster collective sharing and healing in a safe and supportive space.

We offer caring, judgement free & safe spaces for healing and growing through a variety of life losses and challenges. We journey alongside our participants to encourage, empower and help identify each person’s unique way forward – all the while building healthy coping skills with a strong emphasis on self-care practices and recognizing that “there is no right or wrong way to grieve, heal & create”.

Our new center, located at 1020 Carrington Place, Suite 15 in Charlottesville VA 22901 serves our local community and we also provide virtual support and workshops for those at a distance. We offer all of our services and resources to our clients at no cost to them and we rely on community and grant funding to serve our mission.

Life. In session.

If you’d like more information about our programs and services or if you’re interested in donating and supporting our cause, please reach out. We would love to chat.

Reading and Writing for Wellness

This past weekend was hella tough. For a variety of reasons. But the most strikingly painful part was realizing that I exist in a world where the people who were my unconditional people are no longer here.

In looking for ways to love myself through it, I found a fabulous book called Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig.

In my own anxiety and depression, I sometimes have felt that I’m alone and isolated and that no one understands where I am emotionally and that seems to make that proverbial “black hole” of sadness and loss of hope grow.

Writing has been therapeutic for me and reading about other people’s journeys is also hugely helpful. While everyone’s journey and circumstances vary wildly, we all have the human condition of suffering. But, we also can learn and grow and heal and help each other learn new ways to give oxygen to whatever it is that ails us so that we can recover together.

I hope you know you aren’t alone.

I hope you know you matter.

I hope you know you’re loved and I hope you remember to love yourself when things get hard.

And in the moments that you need reminders and you need support to realize and understand that you really aren’t all alone in the world, find someone that you can relate to — either in person, over the phone, virtually or even like I sometimes do: with a wonderful book.

Much love.

Always,

xoxo

This One Struck SO Many Chords with Me today

I believe this down to my bones, y’all.

The harder your journey, the more strength you gain — and with that strength, hopefully, we also find some grace; and the ability and desire to give back.

The only way forward is through. And, sometimes that journey is hard and heavy and the last thing anyone needs is to feel isolated and alone.

So when you’re out of your own personal storm, I hope you find the hope at the end of whatever rainbow life gives you. I hope you take some time to be a light in someone else’s journey.

This world needs you to shine.

Much love and happy weekend. ❤️

xoxo

My Best Advice for Bad Days

Sometimes, I need to take it back to the very basics. I mean super basics. Because I tend to get lost in the shuffle and lose my way. And those are the days that I need to keep it simple.

My keeping it simple looks like this:

Set an alarm and get the hell up and out of bed. On the really bad days, I’m always surprised at how hard a task this simple can actually be.

Once you’re up and moving about, take a long shower. Wash away those negative thoughts and feelings with a fresh smelling soap and shampoo. Rinse and repeat and you’ll be surprised at how much better you can feel emotionally once you’re physically well cared for.

Take time to find clothes that are soft and soothing. Now is not the time to go all out with heels and bobbles. Keep it soft and cozy and wrap yourself in things that bring you comfort while you’re bouncing back to the you that you know and love.

Listen to uplifting and encouraging music or a podcast. Keep it positive and light, bright and happy.

Eat the cake. Or the carbs. Whatever works. Nourish and indulge and embrace the comfort food as you care for you.

Take time to breathe. Really breathe and be in the moment. We can’t change the past or the future and worry does no one any good at all.

What are your self-care tips for the really bad days? What works for you and helps you love yourself through it? I’d love to hear your ideas.

In the mean time, take care of you.

Always,

It’s Probably Hard to Be My Kids

I came to this grand conclusion this week.

I’m aware that I’m loud, awkward and extra.

That’s probably a hard reality for my kids who are currently teenagers.

But they’ve never known me any other way.

For all of my flaws, they know without a shadow of a doubt that they get all of me — always.

I probably over share. I’m probably too vocal about so many things. But they will never have to question where they stand or wonder what I’m thinking. They know that I will always keep it real. Authenticity is my thing and I don’t hide my mistakes from them. They know that I’m learning as I go. And my hope is that that will give them permission to be flawed and fabulous and beautiful souls walking this earth, too.

I don’t want them to ever have the thought “oh, shit. What’s Mom gonna do?”. I don’t want them to fear being real and sometimes broken or overwhelmed or stressed because my goal is to always be their soft place to land. That’s not to say that I don’t correct them and lose my patience with them when they do things that are not so great; I will always be their Momma and my job is also to guide them and let them know when they’ve gone astray and help them back in the right direction.

But my love never waivers. Not for a single minute. Not ever even for a moment.

They get the best of me and I’m so proud of the young human beings that they are growing into.

Always,

xoxo

Un-Stick Yourself!

Some of the harder life lessons that I’ve carried with me for 42 years, I’ve recently had to unlearn and un-teach myself. They were lies. The big, fat ugly ones. The heavy ones that weigh you down and cause you to be small and feel like you can’t stand up tall and be who you’re made to be.

It’s not really clear to me where I picked up these untruths. I can’t say if anyone in particular said them to me with their outside voice or I was simply led to believe them by the actions of others. But they stuck.

And, the un-sticking has been hard. But it’s also been worth it.

Here are some of my favorite big-fat-ugly lies that I am unlearning: I am inherently hard to love. I am too much. I am not enough. I’m unworthy of kindness. Who I am is wrong.

And here are the universal truths that I am reteaching myself —- on a daily basis: Love is easy. Love doesn’t judge. Love doesn’t keep a tally of wrongs. Love doesn’t require me to do anything. Love lets me be me and doesn’t ask a single thing of me. Love doesn’t find my faults. Love doesn’t shame me. Love doesn’t make me feel anxious or less than. Love doesn’t think I’m too much. Love doesn’t think I’m not enough.

Also: Love is perfect. Love is patient. Love is kind. Love doesn’t judge. Love doesn’t require me to earn it. Love simply is.

I hope that you haven’t learned the wrong lessons in your life, but if you have, I want you to know that those big-fat-ugly lies are not who YOU are. Who YOU are is magic. Who YOU are is light. And, most importantly: who YOU are is love. And it takes no effort to love. It simply is.

Get unstuck. Don’t let their voice or their actions and inability to love turn into your inner voice that you carry with you. Unstick yourself. Use some emotional goo-gone and stop that roller coaster of self-doubt and self loathing.

Stay clear of those people who make you doubt your value in this world. Because YOU are absolutely-fucking-amazing, friend. When you find yourself doubting that, read this. YOU are filling the YOU shaped hole in this universe. And no one else could ever do that.

#keepshining

Always. xoxo

What I’m LOVING this Wednesday

It’s actually Thursday and I’m late with this post – all apologies but it’s been a busy week. I hope this edition finds you well and happy.

So, without further delay, here’s what I’m loving:

1. I am guilty of loving all things glitter and sparkly – even at 41 years of age. I’m not even a little bit sorry about it either. I’ve found the cutest stuff that’s used for your hair and your body: Sea Goddess Hair & Body Shimmer Mist is what you need to sparkle any and every day. It’s a non-aerosol spray infused with ultra-fine, ocean-friendly mica that mimics the look of the ocean’s current. Ummmmmm…..yes, please. What’s not to love?
2. Sunday Forever is my new favorite online shopping experience for all things pampering. They have the most luscious kimonos that are so soft and absolutely indulgent. The classic pale pink is perfection and they also carry a delightful collection of candles. You MUST check out the Tan Lines Summer & Suntans scent – it’s delish. They preach that “everything you need to cleanse your energy and protect your vibes” can be found in their shop and I have to agree. While it’s definitely a splurge, you deserve it.
3. I refuse to believe that I’m the only person left on the planet that loves stationary and actual writing with a pen and paper. I am a sucker for the cute things that can be written in and on and that are small enough to keep in my bag when I’m out and about. Check out these adorable and compact diary planners from Moolang.
4. I’m currently reading and loving Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. It’s motivational and uplifting and light and breezy and Spring time appropriate. Her words make me feel like I can conquer all of my goals —–you can too.

Hope it’s been a wonderful week for you too. Let me know what you’re loving this week.

All the love, friends! #keepshining